Page 53 of The Girlfriend

I T WAS HIS FIRST DAY OFF FROM THE HOSPITAL OR STUDY IN WHAT seemed like weeks.

Daniel felt an urge to escape and they got up early and went to Cambridge.

Cherry had never been and said she wanted to see where he’d lived and studied all those years.

They strolled along King’s Parade and Trinity Street, the formal university buildings watching over them like a collection of stern but fond headmasters.

He pointed out which window had been his bedroom and where he’d gone for bacon sandwiches on a Sunday morning after a heavy night out.

She listened to him exclaim and laugh as the memories came back, but it wasn’t wistful nostalgia, which she was pleased about.

She didn’t like not knowing about a great chunk of his life and didn’t want him to yearn for it and the girls that might have been a part of it.

After she’d seen the sights of his university days, they decided to join the tourists.

It seemed a shame not to take a boat on the river, and Daniel watched as Cherry lay back, her eyes closed against the unexpected warm sun, summer’s last gasp before autumn fully took hold.

As usual, his stomach flipped over when he looked at her.

She was so incredibly beautiful. Her long, dark lashes underscored her eyes like naughty smiles, and the hollow of her collarbone was bathed in sunshine in such an inviting way that he wanted to dip his fingers in its warmth.

It wasn’t just that he was deeply attracted to her.

Daniel could spend hours with her without getting bored.

She was clever and sometimes he wondered why she’d settled for a job that had seemed to him to be beneath her ability, but he’d respected her choice, and, anyway, she wasn’t doing it anymore.

The recent, uneasy thought popped into his head again: Cherry didn’t seem to be doing—or looking to be doing—anything.

His face clouded over. He wouldn’t have thought like that if his mother hadn’t been so adamant about Cherry’s motivation for being with him.

She was wrong, Cherry was genuine, but still, Daniel couldn’t shake a nagging sensation. Why was his mum so convinced?

He hadn’t returned her messages yet, as he didn’t know what to say to her.

He was tired of trying to remain tactful under countless accusations of what his girlfriend was really like.

He was tired of having to defend her. If he was honest, he was sick and tired of the entire subject and just wanted to get on with his life.

He couldn’t ignore Laura forever, but he knew that as soon as he called, she’d bring it up again.

And then there was that nagging thought, the thing he couldn’t quite tune out.

He was becoming increasingly aware that since Cherry had moved in, she hadn’t said anything about getting a job.

“What are you thinking about?” Cherry had one eye open and was watching him.

He smiled. “Nothing. Just hoping it doesn’t rain.”

Cherry gazed skyward. Wisps of white gauze over cornflower blue. “Don’t think so.” She reached up and let her hand brush against the draping tendrils of a weeping willow as they glided downstream.

“Nice to get out of London.”

“Are you back in the hospital tomorrow?”

“Yes.” He batted away a couple of midges, coming in too close to his face. “You?”

“Saturday . . . thought I’d have a lazy one. Watch a movie.”

“And after that? I mean, the rest of the week?” He’d tried to sound casual, but he saw her stiffen.

“What do you mean? ”

He pushed against the riverbed with his pole. “I just think it must be boring for you. Being in the flat all day.”

“I’m not in it all day, I go out.”

“Yes, but you were—are—always so ambitious. When you were at the agency. . .” He smiled at her.

She was silent for a moment. “Do you think I’m sponging?”

“No—”

“It’s just I can’t really pay you any rent at the moment, you know that.”

“I don’t want you to—”

“Bills are hard too.”

“I know, it’s okay—”

“But I do help out with groceries.” She looked at him, her eyes defensive, hurt.

Daniel was squirming. He didn’t really want this dissection of their domestic life, and was beginning to regret bringing up the subject.

“I’ll change that. Starting next month.”

She sounded determined, but the look on her face was one of resignation. He had no idea what she was talking about.

“I’ve been offered a job,” she explained.

He stopped punting and looked at her in delight. “Wow! You have? What is it? Why didn’t you say?”

“Because it’s not great. Only assistant, not full agent, and the money’s not much. I was going to keep looking, but—”

“Don’t take it.”

She looked at him in quiet exasperation. “I think, in light of what we’ve just discussed, I should.”

“No, please. There’s no rush. It was just that I was thinking .

. . you’re smart, you obviously want to do something with your life, and it must be so frustrating hanging around .

. . when you’re not out, that is.” He was aware he was now ignoring the notion that she was taking advantage of living in his flat.

Cherry sat up and took his hands. “I really think I should. At least as a stopgap. I’ve got another idea.

... I wasn’t going to tell you yet, not until I have it all worked out, but I’ve been thinking of setting up a company.

But until then, if I take this job, I could afford to pay you a thousand a month. I know it’s not much—”

He put a finger to her lips, embarrassed for putting her on the spot.

Ashamed too, because, strictly speaking, he didn’t pay for his apartment either; it had been bought by his father.

And here she was offering up what would be half—probably more than half—of her salary from a job she was too bright for and didn’t want.

“I don’t want to hear another word about it. More to the point, what’s this company?”

She paused. “You sure?”

“Yes. Now come on, spill.”

“Well, it’s still early days, but with my knowledge of property . . . I think there’s still money to be made in renovation.”

“I’ll invest in you.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

She smiled politely. Daniel started punting again. A silence fell between them.

He felt he should make amends. “What are you thinking?”

“What if it . . . you know, the whole money thing, comes between us?”

“Why should it? Okay, okay, I know it just did, a bit, but now we know we can deal with it.” He looked at her and guessed what she was thinking.

“It’s not just us though, is it? Your mum thinks that’s why I’m with you.”

“That’s got nothing to do with us.”

“It has, though. I’m never going to be as rich as you, you know that. We’ll always be different. You’ll always end up paying more than me as long as we live your lifestyle. Sometimes it’s a struggle to keep up, to not mind. I do have pride, you know.” Upset, Cherry looked toward the bank.

Daniel stopped punting and sat down in the boat. “It’s okay. . . .”

“I wish I could buy this, buy that, but I can’t. That’s just the way it is. If it bothers you, you must say so. ”

“I’m sorry, Cherry.”

She turned to him then and gave a small smile. Allowed him to take her hands. “Of course, we could always move to Croydon.”

He laughed. “Wouldn’t bother me.”

She grimaced. “Would me.” And he laughed again.

“I’m afraid of what she’ll do,” she said quietly, “afraid I’ll lose you.”

She sounded so fragile, on the verge of defeat, and he felt a sudden fierce urge to fight for her.

And a fear. He realized he’d let something toxic in, into what was theirs, their space, their love, and he was angry at himself for allowing his mother’s words to influence him so much.

He’d never been so happy, and if he wasn’t careful, he’d drive Cherry away.

And then he knew he couldn’t go on for months with his mum’s constant disapproval, her dissuasive arguments.

It was like pulling a tooth—the more you thought about it, the worse it seemed.

Better for his mother for it to be over. One short, sharp tug.

“Marry me.”

Her look of shock made him laugh. Then he realized in a flash of panic, she might say no. He went onto one knee, the boat rocking precariously, and took her hand as she giggled and yelped.

“You’ll tip us in!”

“Will you?”

She laughed again and a joy radiated over her face. “Yes!”